The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-07-15

good reason that she had carefully kept out
of his way.
SO it came to pass that when, looking out Of
tle window on the afternoon in question, she
saw the crown of n clerical hat coming along
the road, Eva promptly gathered up her
work and commenced a hasty retreat to her
bedroom.
sister.
"Upstairs-here he comes"
"Hol who is 'hef"
"Mr. Plowden of course"
"And why should you run away because
Mr. Plowden is comingp
al do not like Mr.. Plowden."
"Really, Eva, you are too bad. You know
what IA frendess position we are in Just now,
and you go and get up dislike to one of the
few men we know. 1t is very selfish OF you
and most unreasonable"
At that moment the front door bell rang,
and Eva fed.
Mr.. Plowden ON entering looked round the
room with a somewhat disappointed air
"If you are looking for my sister," said
Florence, "she is not very we'll"
"Indeed, am afraid that her health Is not
good; she is so often indisposed."
Florence smiled, and they dropped into the
district visiting Presently, however, Flor
ence dropped out again.
"By the way, Mr.. Plowden, want to tell
you Of something heard the other day, and
which concerns you Indeed, think that it
is only right that l should do So l heard
that you were seen talking to my sister, not
very far from the Titheburgh abbey cottages,
and that she-she ran away from you. Then
Mr.. Jones jumped over the wall and also be-
gan to talk with you. Presently he also
turned, and so said my informant, you
struck at him with heavy stick, but missed
him. Thereupon a tussle ensued, and you got
the worst of it."
"He irritated me beyond all endurance
broke in Mr.. PlowdeD, excitedly.
"Oh, then the story is truer
Mr. Plowden saw that he had made a fatal
mistake, but it was too late to deny it.
"To certain extent" he'said, sulkily.
"That young rufiian told me that was not
gentleman"
Really! OF course that was unpleasant.
But how glad you must feel that you missed
him, especially as his back was turned. 1t
would have looked so bad for a clergyman to
be had up for assault, or worse. wouldn't itr
Mr.. Plowden turned pale and bit his lip.
He began to feel that he was in the power Of
this quiet, dignified young woman, and the
feeling was not pleasant.
"And it would not hook very well il the
story got round here, would iti mean even
if it was not known that you hit at him with
the stick when he was not looking because,
you see, it would sound SO absurd! The idea
of n clergyman, more than six feet high
being shaken like a naughty child / sup
pose NJ. Jones is very strongr
Mr. Plowden WINGED beneath her mockery
and rising seized his hat, but she motioned
him back to his chair.
"Don't go yet" she said. ~ wanted to tell
you that you ought to be much obliged to me
for thinking of all this for you. l thought
that it would be painful to you to have the
story all over the country side, so nipped it
in the bud"
Mr. Plowden groaned in spirit II these
were the results of a story nipped in the bud,
what would its uninjured bloom be likea
"Who told youp he asked brusquely. "Jones
went away"
"Yes, How glad you must be- by the way,
that he is gone! But it was not Mr.. JONES' it
was person who oversaw the difference of
opinion No, never mind who it was have
found means to silence that person"
Little did Mr.. Plowden guess that during
the whole course OF his love scene and the
subsequent affair with Jeremy there had
leaned gracefully in an angle of the sod wall,
not twenty yards away, figure uncommonly
resembling that of an ancient mariner in an
attitude of the most intense and solemn con-
temptation; but SO it was
81 am grateful to you, Miss Ceswck"
"Thank you. Mr.. Plowden, it is refreshing
to meet with true gratitude; it is a scarce
flower in this world; but really l don't
deserve any. The observer who oversaw the
painful scene between you and Mr.. Jones
also oversaw scene preceding it that, so far
as | can gather, seems to have been hardly
less painful in its way"
Mr.. Plowden colored, but said nothing
"Now you see, Mr. Plowden, am left in
rather peculiar position regards my sis
ter; she is younger than | am, and has al
ways been accustomed to look up to me, so
rs you will easily understand, feel my re-
sponsibilities to weigh upon me. Conse-
quently feel bound to ask you what am to
understand from the report Of my In
formantp
"Simply this, Miss Ceswick: proposed to
your sister and she refused ineu
"Indeed you were unfortunate that after
noon"
"MiSs Ceswick," went on Mr.. Plowden,
after pause, "if l could find means to in
duce your sister to change her verdict, would
my suit have your supportr
Florence raised her piercing eyes from her
work and for second fixed them on the
clergyman's face.
THAT depends, Mr. Plowden
"I am well off" he went or, eagariy. sand
| wild tel y0a secret. ! lave bought the ad-
vowson of this livingS | happened 70 hear
that it was going and got it at bargain, I
| don't think that Halford's life is worth five
! years purchase
"Why do you want TO marry Eva, Mr..
| PlowdenP asked Florence, ignoring this piece
| of information; "you are not in love with
| herln
an lovei No, Miss Ceswick don't think
that sensible men fall in love; they leave that
to boys and womenln
| "Ohl Then why do you want to marry
Evai 1t will be best to tell me frankly, Mr..
| Plowden."
He hesitated, and then came to the conclu-
sion that with a person of Florence's pene-
tration frankneSs was the best game.
"Wel, as You must know, your sister is an
extraordinarily beautiful women"
"And would therefore form desirable ad.
dition to your establishment"
Precisely" said Mr.. Plowden. "Also," he
went on, "she is distinguished looking wo
man, and quite the lady"
l. Florence shuddered at the phrase
"And would therefore give you social status
Mr. PlowdenP
ayes. She is also sprung from an ancient
family
Florence smiled, and looked at Mr.. Plow
den with an air that said more plainly thar
amy words, (which you clearly are not"
an short, am anxious to get married, and
| admire your sister Eva more than anybody
| ever saw"
| "All of which are very satisfactory reasons
Mr., Plowden; all you have to do is to con
vince my sister of the many advantages yol
have to offer her, and-to win her affection.
"Ah, Miss Ceswck, that is just the point
She told me that her affections were ire
deemably engaged, and that she had none L
give. If only have the opportunity, how
ever, shall hope TO be able to distance my
rival
Florence looked at him scrutinizingly as sh,
answered;
"You do not know Ernest Kershaw, or yol
would not be SO confident
"Why, am not good as this Ernest 4
he asked; for Florenccs remark, identical a
it was with that of Jeremy, wounded hi
vanity intensely.
"Wel, Mr.. Plowden, do not want to b
rude, but it is impossible for me TO conceiv
woman's affections being won away from
Ernest Kershaw by you, You are so yer,
different"
If Mr.. Plowden wanted straightforward
answer he had certainly got it. For som
moments he sat In sulky silence, and then h
said;
q suppose, If that ( the case, there is moth
| ing to be donen